Before winter
- Close and empty every outside faucet
- Wrap lines that pass through cold spaces
- Block air leaks next to plumbing
- Know your main shut-off
During cold snaps
- Open cabinet doors on exterior walls
- Let a trickle run from vulnerable taps
- Keep garage doors closed
- Keep heat on when away
If frozen
Open the tap, warm the pipe gently, never use flame.
If a pipe bursts, close the main.
Help
See frozen pipe thawing.
Where pipes freeze most
In Vaughan homes, the usual trouble spots are kitchen sinks on exterior walls, bathrooms over garages, pipes running along cold foundation walls and hose bib lines. Know where yours are and give them attention when temperatures drop well below freezing.
Insulation that helps
Slip-on foam sleeves cost little and go on bare basement and crawlspace pipe in minutes. Fill gaps where pipes enter the house with expanding foam. In garages and unheated spaces, heat cable approved for pipes can protect vulnerable runs.
Going away in winter
Leave the thermostat at a sensible winter setting. Ask someone to check the house. On long trips, closing the main and emptying the lines is safest. Water sensors linked to a motorised valve are another layer.
When to put the tools down
Some of this is homeowner work and some is not. Stop and phone us if you see any of these:
- Water meter dial moves with every tap off
- Pressure drops when two fixtures run
- Green crust on copper joints
- Banging when a valve closes quickly
- Anything involving the gas line, the venting or cutting into a wall
Quick answers
Is letting a tap drip wasteful?
It uses a little water, but far less than the cost and mess of a burst pipe during a deep cold snap.
Does heat tape need special care?
Use only products listed for pipes, follow the instructions closely and never wrap tape over itself.